Rival campaign groups go to war over Tesco in Thame

Neil Shefferd

Two rival campaign groups have been formed in Thame fighting both for and against a Tesco in the town.

The proposed supermarket at the DAF site in Howland Road is opposed by Thame Centre First, which argues it would harm town centre trade, but backed by Thame Needs Tesco, which claims the town needs a large, affordable store.

It says the initial findings show that Tesco will divert trade away from the town centre, and it argues that the store is ‘inconsistent with the adopted planning policy set out in the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy and Thame Neighbourhood Plan, which set out limited requirements for additional convenience shopping and nothing on the scale proposed by Tesco’.

The group has also collected a petition against Tesco with more than 1,000 signatures. Of these 58% of respondents were from Thame itself, while 42% were from other locations, including Haddenham, Chinnor, Chearsley, Shabbington, Ickford, Cuddington, Tetsworth.

The group says this shows how vital a role the centre of Thame plays for shopping and other services not just for Thame residents but the surrounding area.

On board with the anti-campaign are the bosses of Thame’s two independent butchers, Newitt’s and Wren’s.

Christopher Wren, managing director of Wren’s said: “I believe independent shops like ours are vitally important as we offer outstanding customer service and best quality meat at value-for-money prices.

“The disastrous effect on town centres is evident from other places where supermarkets have opened on the edge of town, leading to loss of business and shop closures.”

Thame Needs Tesco, which was set up earlier this momth, has organised an e-petition on South Oxfordshire District Council’s website supporting the Tesco plans.

The group argues that the proposal will bring many benefits to the town including: